Rapada has opt-out clause at the end of spring training

Barring any future injuries, the Yankees roster is locked into 24 spots with just one spot remaining to be filled on the bench by a infielder or outfielder or in the bullpen by a reliever.

Yankees manager has talked about the desire to have two lefties in the bullpen in the past so there is a decent chance that’s the route they go in which case Clay Rapada and Cesar Cabral have a good shot at making the roster.

Both pitchers have been impressive this spring. Rapada is a 31-year-old veteran who was cut by the Orioles just three days before being signed by the Yankees. Cabral is a 23-year-old that was taken in the Rule 5 Draft from the Boston Red Sox.

Because Cabral is a Rule 5 pick, the Yankees will lose him if he doesn’t stay on the major league roster all season long, but Chad Jennings of the Journal News reported yesterday that they could lose Rapada too as he has an opt-out clause at the end of spring if he is not on the major league roster.

The Yankees won’t necessarily carry a second lefty either. Girardi said it would be nice, but also left open the possibility of something else as he said that he is comfortable with his right handed relievers getting lefties out in tough situations as well. If the Yankees wanted to carry another outfielder on the bench besides Andruw Jones and Raul Ibanez, Justin Maxwell has been very impressive in camp. I’m just sayin’.